We recently acquired 2 vibrant board games celebrating the 1934 London to Melbourne air race.  

These board games join a large amount of material we already have relating to this great race and those involved. Read on to learn all about it! 

What was the MacRobertson Air Race?

To celebrate the 1934 Melbourne centenary, an exciting air race from England to Australia was organised. Only 31 years after the Wright Brothers achieved powered flight, this race captured the attention of people across the world.  

The race tested the endurance and skill of the participants and their aircraft in 2 divisions: the speed race, and the handicap race. The contest was open to all, without limits on the type or power of the aircraft, or the number of crew. Each aircraft had to carry 3 days’ worth of food and water, a certificate of airworthiness from their country of registration and various safety equipment. Competitors could create their own route but they were required to land and check in at aerodromes in Baghdad, Allahabad (India), Singapore, Darwin, and Charleville (Australia).  

A sweet sponsorship

The competition was sponsored by Sir Macpherson Robertson (1859–1945), a Melbourne-based confectionery magnate whose company MacRobertson’s created chocolate classics such as the Freddo Frog, Cherry Ripe, and Old Gold Chocolate. The race was renamed the MacRobertson Centenary Air Race after his confectionery company, and a limited edition milk chocolate bar wrapped in a map of the race was released to commemorate the partnership. 

What’s to play for?

Sir MacPherson Robertson provided a substantial £15,000 (now over $1.8 million) for the prize pool. Additionally, he commissioned Melbourne-based jewellers Hardy Brothers to create a trophy at a cost of £657 (now over $79,000) to be awarded to first place in the speed race.  

Participants who finished the race within 16 days received a gold medallion that featured a world map marking the route on one side and a portrait of Robertson on the other side. Wax seals of this medal design can be found in our collection.

The pilots

The first list of participants included 64 crews from Australia, England, the United States, France, Denmark, India, Ireland, Italy, Germany, New Guinea, the Netherlands, Sweden, Algeria and Portugal. Included in this list were notable Australian aviators Jimmy Melrose, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, Horrie Miller, Warren Penny and an Air Race Australia entry.  

When the first list of participants was sent to the countries on the route, Turkey banned Kingsford Smith from flying over their territory. This was due to a previous incident in 1931 when he landed in a Turkish military zone without their permission.  

Surprising many, Kingsford Smith was a shock exit from the race. Controversy surrounded his unexpected exit with suggestions it was due to the uncompetitive safety requirements of the race, engine issues or being unable to register his plane in time.  

George ‘Scotty’ Allen, an aviation pioneer in his own right, reported that Kingsford Smith received a white feather for withdrawing from the air race, a symbol of cowardice.  

Flying into history

The race left RAF Mildenhall, north of Cambridge, England, on 20 October 1934. A ballot was held to decide the order of the planes leaving. Planes were organised into 3 groups, very fast class, fast class, and slow class, and sent off at 45-second intervals.  

The Netherlands crew of the Uiver, a KLM Douglas DC-2 aircraft, took an early lead followed by the British team of the Grosvenor House in a de Havilland DH.88 Comet.  

The race was close between these 2 teams, but Grosvenor House took the win in a flight time of 70 hours, 54 minutes.  

On the final stretch, the Uiver flew into an electrical storm and became lost. With the help of the race headquarters, the local 2CO radio station, and the residents of Albury, NSW, the Uiver safely landed on the town’s racecourse lit by car headlights of the residents. The Uiver then got bogged in the saturated racecourse requiring assistance from the residents of once more.  

After being successfully freed the Uiver continued, finishing second outright with a flight time of 81 hours, 10 minutes and winning the handicap division.   

From the 20 crews to start the race only 12 finished. Jimmy Melrose from Adelaide was the only Australian to finish the race. Flying My Hildergarde, a de Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth, he was the youngest entrant and the only solo flyer to finish, placing third in the handicap division.